Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster who broke barriers during his career calling some of the biggest sporting events, has died from cancer, according to a statement from his family released by the network on Friday. He was 78.
“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement.
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues.
Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.
In 2001, he announced Super Bowl 35 for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.
David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as someone who broke barriers and set standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness.
“A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” Berson said.
Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.
Sean McManus said of all the moves he made in his nearly 27 1/2 years leading CBS Sports, one of his proudest was bringing Gumbel back.
“Not only did he elevate our NFL and NCAA coverage to a new level, but his kindness, generosity, sense of humor and unselfishness were second to none. When he was around, he made everyone from the researchers to the technicians to the executives feel like he was their best friend,” said McManus, who retired as CBS Sports chairman in April. “His love for his family was always the foundation of his life. There will never be another Greg Gumbel, and our industry and this world is a sadder place without him.”
Gumbel hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. In 1995, he hosted the world figure skating championships and the following year hosted NBC’s daytime coverage of the Atlanta Summer Olympics.
But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today,” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004-05.
Earlier this year, Gumbel recalled replacing Brent Musburger as host of “The NFL Today” in 1990, describing it as intimidating and daunting.
“The fact that I got to sit in the same chair and do the same thing or try to do the same thing that he did was an incredible honor,” he said.
Gumbel also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl 35 and 38. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.
“Like all who knew and loved him, I too am saddened by his death, yet also so very grateful to have known him in my life,” Clark Kellogg, a CBS Sports college basketball game and studio analyst, said in a statement. “What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner.”
Gumbel was the older brother of Bryant Gumbel, the host of NBC’s “Today” show and “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” on HBO. Bryant Gumbel received a lifetime achievement award at the Sports Emmys in 2003.
Greg Gumbel grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967 with a degree in English. He had plans to become an English teacher, but after his brother got into sportscasting, he auditioned at WMAQ-TV, an NBC affiliate in Chicago in 1973, according to the book “You Are Looking Live!: How The NFL Today Revolutionized Sports Broadcasting.” He was soon offered a position as weekend sports anchor.
“I’m kind of surprised I got the job. I certainly wasn’t anyone who was polished,” he said in the book. “By my own reckoning, it took me a good year to start to feel comfortable in front of a camera.”
Gumbel also worked for ESPN and the Madison Square Garden network.
James Brown, who currently hosts “The NFL Today,” described Gumbel on Friday as “Mr. Versatility and also very telegenic.”
“It was my pleasure to call him a friend and one who could do anything that was given to him in the wake of an assignment,” he added.
Gumbel won local Emmy Awards during his long career and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
Outside of his broadcast career, he was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees. He also was a member of the Sports Council for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for 16 years.
Associated Press Reporter Mike Sisak and Sports Writer Joe Reedy contributed to this report.
Greg Gumbel, CBS Sports broadcasting legend, dies at 78
Greg Gumbel, the renowned CBS Sports anchor and commentator, has died at the age of 78.
His family confirmed the news in a statement on Friday, saying:
Gumbel served as a play-by-play announcer and studio host for CBS Sports, and previously spent several years on air for NBC Sports. He won legions of fans with his work hosting coverage ranging from "The NFL Today" to multiple Super Bowls and Olympic Games.
In 2022, he celebrated his 50th year of broadcasting.
"The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague," said David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports.
"A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four," Berson said.
"Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family."
Gumbel was born in New Orleans on May 3, 1946, and grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967. His younger brother, Bryant Gumbel, also rose to fame in broadcasting as host of NBC's "Today" show and "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" on HBO.
Greg Gumbel joined CBS Sports in 1989 after years of hosting and play-play duties for New York Knicks basketball and New York Yankees baseball for the Madison Square Garden Network, as well as other MSGN programs, which earned him a local Emmy Award. He also worked for ESPN, WMAQ-TV Chicago, where he won two local Emmys, and WFAN Radio in New York City
At CBS Sports, he hosted "The NFL Today," the network's NFL pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show, from 1990-93 and 2004-05, Super Bowl XXVI in 1992, Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, and Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
He served as primetime anchor of CBS Sports' coverage of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and as co-anchor of the network's weekday morning broadcasts of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games.
He was also play-by-play announcer for regular-season and post-season Major League Baseball, host of the 1990 MLB All-Star Game, college football broadcasts for CBS Sports, and host and play-by-play announcer for the College World Series for several years.
"He really was one of the greats. He just had a light touch, he had a wit about him, and everyone loved working with him," said Lesley Visser, his longtime colleague at CBS Sports.
"Greg had an innate dignity that he brought to the table," she told CBS News in an in an interview Friday.
In 1994, Gumbel went to NBC Sports for four years, serving as host of "The NFL on NBC" pre-game show and NBC's Super Bowl pre-game shows in 1996 and 1998.
He hosted the pre-game show for the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and was a play-by-play announcer on NBC's "Baseball Night in America." Gumbel also served as a play-by-play announcer for "The NBA on NBC" and hosted NBC's daytime coverage of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta.
Gumbel returned to CBS Sports in 1998 as host and play-by-play announcer for college basketball and "The NFL on CBS," where he teamed for six seasons with analyst Phil Simms. He called CBS's coverage of Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII, at the time making him the first network broadcaster to call play-by-play and host a Super Bowl.
Gumbel hosted "The NFL Today" for two seasons before returning to the booth to team with Dan Dierdorf for eight seasons, through 2013. He served as host of "Inside the NFL" on SHOWTIME in 2014 alongside analysts Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Ed Reed and Brandon Marshall. At CBS, Gumbel also provided play-by-play for regular-season college basketball and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, NBA regular-season and playoff games and College World Series championship games.
"The news that Greg Gumbel has passed is just heartbreaking," sportscaster Ernie Johnson, host of "Inside the NBA," wrote in a social media post. "Was an honor to share the March Madness desk with him. A pro's pro and a gentleman of the highest order."
Gumbel was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
"Greg Gumbel did not care about fame at all," Visser said. "He cared about the people he worked with and the work that he did."
Basketball icon Earvin "Magic" Johnson also paid tribute, writing in a post on X: "I'm saddened to hear about the passing of longtime and legendary broadcaster and friend Greg Gumbel. Greg was an African-American pioneer."
Outside the studio, Gumbel was a longtime supporter of the March of Dimes, serving two six-year terms as a member of the March of Dimes Board of Trustees and an additional 18 years as a member of the organization's National Board of Advisors. For 16 years, he was also a member of the Sports Council for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, which provides direction and guidance for the mission of that organization.
He also served as member of the Board of Regents for his alma mater, Loras College, since 2009.
Greg Gumbel, legendary sports broadcaster, dead at 78 after battle with cancer
Greg Gumbel, a longtime sportscaster who called NFL games on CBS for decades and served as the network’s March Madness host, has died “after a courageous battle with cancer,” his family announced Friday.
He was 78 years old.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” his wife, Marcy, and daughter, Michelle, wrote in a statement released by CBS.
“He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.
“Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”
Gumbel, who missed last year’s NCAA Tournament due to what the network described as “family health issues,” spent decades at CBS across two stints (1988-93, 1998-2024), returning to the network — after a run at NBC — to pair with Phil Simms and form the No. 1 broadcast team through the end of the 2003 season.
He called Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII in January 2001 and February 2004, respectively.
Then, after hosting “The NFL Today” for two seasons, Gumbel returned to calling NFL games for CBS in 2006, a role he continued to hold through the end of the 2022 season.
In 2023, he re-signed with CBS and continued on its college basketball coverage but stepped away from NFL duties.
“The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel,” David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, said in a statement released by the network.
“There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague.”
Gumbel orchestrated a sports broadcasting career that “broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow,” Berson continued.
He became synonymous with Selection Sunday, when CBS revealed the bracket for March Madness, and served as the network’s host for the NCAA Tournament since returning in 1998.
When the 2024 selection show began and Gumbel was absent, Adam Zucker — filling in as host — and the rest of the crew opened with remarks about Gumbel, with analyst Clark Kellogg saying that, “It’s somewhat surreal that he’s not to my right.”
It marked the first March Madness Gumbel missed since 1997, according to ESPN.
Tributes remembering Gumbel, who took his first broadcasting job at Chicago’s WMAQ, poured in from around the sports media industry Friday evening.
Longtime sports broadcaster Trey Wingo said Gumbel made hosting and calling games “look effortless.”
Emmy-winning producer Dan Forer, who worked at CBS and ESPN Films, described Gumbel as the “best announcer a young producer/director could have because he was extremely inclusive and never ever lost his cool.”
Gumbel, a 1967 graduate of Loras College in Iowa, also anchored “SportsCenter,” worked for MSG Network as a backup Knicks announcer to Marv Albert and hosted the studio portion of the MSG Yankees coverage at different points early in his career.
“A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller,” Berson said in his statement, “Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time.”
Greg Gumbel, Legendary Sports Broadcaster, Dies of Cancer at 78
Veteran sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel has died at the age of 78.
On Friday, Dec. 27, the renowned NFL broadcaster and March Madness host's death was confirmed in a family statement shared with PEOPLE.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer," the statement from Gumbel's wife Marcy and daughter Michelle read.
"Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity," it continued. "He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten."
Before joining CBS in 1989, he was a host and play-by-play commentator for the Madison Square Garden Network and worked for ESPN, WMAQ-TV Chicago and WFAN Radio.
The three-time Emmy winner served as the host of NFL Today throughout his first stint with CBS and as an anchor for the network's coverage of the Winter Olympics.
After leaving CBS in 1994, he joined NBC Sports, where he covered several Super Bowls and Olympic Games. Upon his return to CBS in 1998, he became the network's lead play-by-play announcer for the NFL and hosted College Basketball on CBS for 26 years, becoming the voice of Selection Sunday.
"The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague," said David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports.
"A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four," Berson added.
"Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Many of Gumbel's peers paid tribute to him on Friday.
“For close to 25 years, I enjoyed and was richly blessed by Greg’s friendship, goodness, humor, partnership, professionalism and wisdom. He was excellent in his work and exemplary in his caring and character. Like all who knew and loved him, I too am saddened by his death, yet also so very grateful to have known him in my life. What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner," said Clark Kellogg, lead basketball analyst at CBS.
“Greg Gumbel was broadcasting royalty. He was as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known. Our careers intersected for nearly 35 years, and he was the consummate teammate and friend. There's not a member of the CBS Sports family who doesn't have a sweet or kind memory of Greg. I have so much love and respect for him, and I'm going to miss him dearly,” longtime CBS host Jim Nantz wrote.
“Everyone in sports television is heartbroken. Greg was foundational to CBS, the straight-man with the light touch. He loved all the men and women of CBS; we were blessed with his rare humanity," added sportscaster Lesley Visser.
Emmy-winning producer Dan Forer shared a memorable anecdote about Gumbel in a statement on social media.
"Greg was the best announcer a young producer/director could have because he was extremely inclusive and never ever lost his cool — except for the time we were shooting a Super Bowl Anti-Drug PSA in the South Bronx at 2am and live gunfire erupted," Forer's post continued. "That was the only occasion Greg raised his voice and had a few choice words for me; which I deserved."
Forer completed his statement by remembering Gumbel as a "true professional," who was a "kind, magnificent man."
Greg Gumbel was the older brother to broadcaster Bryant Gumbel, 76.
Greg Gumbel, longtime sports broadcaster, dies at 78
Greg Gumbel, a longtime sports broadcaster described as “broadcasting royalty,” has died following a battle with cancer, his wife and daughter announced in a statement shared by CBS Sports on X. He was 78.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” the statement read. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer.”
The Gumbels said Greg, who was a CBS Sports studio host and play-by-play announcer, including five Super Bowls and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for 25 years, faced his illness with “stoicism, grace and positivity.”
“He was universally well-liked,” broadcaster Bob Costas told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “He was consistently excellent at his job.”
CBS Sports said in a statement it is “devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel.”
“There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague,” said David Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, in the statement.
There was an outpouring of support for Gumbel on Friday, with Harold Bryant, CBS Sports executive producer and executive vice president of production, calling the late announcer a “role model and a pioneer” in a statement.
“He broke barriers being one of the few Black broadcasters covering sports at the highest levels. He set a high bar for others to follow. His work was beyond reproach as he became one of the most respected broadcasters in the industry,” Bryant said.
“Whether it was play-by-play, studio host, or interviewing elite athletes, Greg was as smooth and trustworthy as could be. Greg loved his family, loved The Rolling Stones, and loved CBS. He treated everybody with respect and gratitude. Greg – you will be missed,” Bryant’s statement continued.
Clark Kellogg, a college basketball analyst for CBS and a former professional basketball player, said he enjoyed nearly 25 years of Gumbel’s “friendship, goodness, humor, partnership, professionalism and wisdom.”
“He was excellent in his work and exemplary in his caring and character,” Kellogg said in a statement.
Sports announcer Jim Nantz, who said his career had intersected with Gumbel’s for nearly 35 years, described the late host as “as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known” in a statement.
“Greg Gumbel was broadcasting royalty,” Nantz said.
“There’s not a member of the CBS Sports family who doesn’t have a sweet or kind memory of Greg. I have so much love and respect for him, and I’m going to miss him dearly,” Nantz continued.
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues, The Associated Press reported.
Last year, he signed an extension with CBS that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties, according to the AP.
Gumbel, born on May 3, 1946, in New Orleans, grew up in Chicago, according to a biography from CBS News.
In January 1998, Gumbel returned to CBS Sports as a play-by-play announcer and host after previously working for the network from October 1989 to May 1994, according to the biography.
Gumbel first left CBS for NBC when it lost football coverage in 1994 and returned four years later when it regained the contract, according to the AP.
Before joining CBS, Gumbel hosted for the NBA’s New York Knicks and the MLB’s New York Yankees for the Madison Square Garden Network, according to CBS.
His career, spanning more than 50 years, also included anchoring ESPN’s SportsCenter while working with the network for more than five years, hosting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and CBS football program “The NFL Today,” the Hollywood Reporter reported.
The three-time localEmmy Award winner was a CBS Sports primetime anchor for 1994 Olympic Winter Games coverage and co-anchored weekday morning CBS broadcasts of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, according to CBS.
The older brother of sportscaster and host Bryant Gumbel, Greg Gumbel was awarded the Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting in 2007, according to the AP.
He was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees, and served as member of the Sports Council for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for 16 years, the AP reported.
Gumbel celebrated 50 years of broadcasting in 2022, CBS reported.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.
Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel, 78, dies of cancer
Greg Gumbel, a veteran of CBS Sports who spent more than 50 years in sports broadcasting, has died of cancer at the age of 78, his family said Friday.
"He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer," his wife, Marcy, and daughter, Michelle, said in a joint statement released by CBS Sports. "Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace and positivity.
"He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten."
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998.
He signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.
In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.
David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness.
"A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," Berson said.
Gumbel joined ESPN in 1981, serving as an anchor for "SportsCenter" and contributing to ESPN's early NBA coverage during his time with the network through 1986.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of Greg Gumbel's passing," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. "Greg was a highly accomplished and pioneering figure in sports broadcasting who brought instant credibility to ESPN in the early years of the network as both a SportsCenter anchor and as a key on-air contributor to our initial NBA coverage in the 1980s.
"We send out deepest condolences to the Gumbel family and to Greg's many colleagues and friends, including his CBS Sports family."
Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998.
He hosted CBS' coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. In 1995, he hosted the World Figure Skating Championships and the following year hosted NBC's daytime coverage of the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta.
But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS' NFL studio show, "The NFL Today," from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004.
He also called NFL games as the network's lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.
"Like all who knew and loved him, I too am saddened by his death, yet also so very grateful to have known him in my life," Clark Kellogg, a CBS Sports college basketball game and studio analyst, said in a statement. "What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner."
Gumbel, the older brother of sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967 with a degree in English. He won local Emmy Awards during his long career and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
Outside of his career as a sportscaster, Gumbel was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees. He also was a member of the Sports Council for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital for 16 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Greg Gumbel, famed US sportscaster, dies at 78
Famed American sports commentator Greg Gumbel has died from cancer at the age of 78, his family announced on Friday.
Gumbel, who for decades worked for CBS Sports, was considered a fixture in US sports, particularly American football and basketball.
In 2001, he became the first black sports commentator to give play-by-play announcements of the Super Bowl.
In a statement, his family said that "he leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten".
The statement added that Gumbel "passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer".
"Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace and positivity."
Originally from New Orleans, Gumbel grew up in Chicago and first joined CBS in 1989 after having spent years working at New York Knicks basketball and Yankees baseball games for the Madison Square Garden Network.
His start, however, came in the early 1970s, when an executive at a local NBC affiliate in Chicago asked him to broadcast a high school basketball game every weekend.
"He said, 'I have this idea and I want you to take it and run with it'," Gumbel recalled in a 2021 interview. "We introduced our audience to a lot of guys who went on to become famous."
Jim Nantz, a veteran of CBS Sports and another prominent sports anchor, referred to Gumbel as "broadcasting royalty."
"He was as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known," he said. "Our careers interesected for nearly 35 years, and he was a consumate teammate and friend."
He really was one of the greats," another long-time colleague Lesley Visser told CBS News, the BBC's US partner. "He just had a light touch, he had a wit about him and everyone loved working with him."
"Greg had an innate dignity that he brought to the table," she added.
At CBS Sports, Gumbel had two stints as the host of the popular "NFL Today" pre-game, halftime and post-game show, including three Super Bowls in 1992, 2013 and 2016.
Gumbel also spent four years at NBC Sports, where he hosted the "NFL on NBC" show and several other Super Bowl pre-game shows.
He briefly stepped away from NFL coverage in 2003, before returning in 2005 and continued in that role until 2022.
The longtime sportscaster also served as the primetime anchor for CBS Sports during the 1994 Olympic Winter Games, as well as co-anchor during weekday broadcasts of the 1992 Winter Games.
Additionally, he was a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball and became a fixture of college football broadcasts.
In March of this year, he missed his first National Collegiate Athletic Association - or NCAA - basketball tournament since 1997 due to unspecified health issues.
He had signed an extension with CBS in 2023 that allowed him to return to covering college basketball while stepping away from his work covering the NFL.
Gumbel is survived by his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle and younger brother Bryant, who is also a prominent broadcaster and a former host of the "Today" show.
Greg Gumbel receives tribute from CBS' 'The NFL Today,' former studio partner Terry Bradshaw
Longtime CBS broadcaster Greg Gumbel died on Friday from cancer at 78 years old. Though he covered a variety of sports during his 50 years in television — including the NBA, MLB, the Olympics and college basketball — Gumbel is perhaps best known for his work as a play-by-play announcer and studio host for NFL games.
On Sunday, the NFL pregame shows for Week 17 provided the first opportunity for Gumbel's former colleagues — many of whom worked directly with him — to publicly express their condolences and pay tribute to a universally beloved TV figure.
Fox's Terry Bradshaw began his run as a studio analyst with Gumbel on CBS' "The NFL Today" in 1990, and the two worked together for four years.
"I can actually say that I owe my pregame career to Greg Gumbel," Bradshaw said on "Fox NFL Sunday." "Spending four years with him, we became really good friends. Fun guy, loved the Rolling Stones, great sense of humor and he taught me so much about doing this show, so I missed him for so many years."
Naturally, CBS devoted a notable portion of "The NFL Today" to Gumbel, putting together a package featuring highlights from the broadcaster's long career at the network.
Gumbel first hosted the show from 1990 through 1993 before moving to NBC when CBS lost its NFL broadcast rights. But he returned to the network in 1998 and called play-by-play on the No. 1 broadcast team with analyst Phil Simms. He called two Super Bowls (XXXV and XXXVIII), the first Black broadcaster to do so. In 2004, he moved to studio hosting duties, switching places with Jim Nantz.
"On the air, he was kind, trustworthy and ego-free — just as he was if you were fortunate enough to know him off the air," Nantz said during his Week 17 broadcast. "A random meeting with Greg Gumbel, you'd walk away saying he was one of the finest men you've ever met."
After the tribute to Gumbel aired on CBS, the current hosts of "The NFL Today" shared their memories of Gumbel.
"He lit up every room he walked into. He made you feel special," Bill Cowher said. "There was something about that wry little grin he had about him that he could make you feel like you were something different, made you feel like you were better than you really were."
"A legendary career on camera. But it was who he was off-camera that will help define him for people who don't know him personally," added Nate Burleson. "Some years ago, he tracked down my number and he would text me occasionally when I reached personal and professional milestones.
"I have no shortage of men who are mentors and friends, but he immediately was placed on that list of father figures," he continued. "I was so happy when I got his texts. I would run home like a child and tell my wife, 'Greg texted me and told me he was proud of me.' And that meant the world to me."
Following two seasons anchoring the pregame show, Gumbel went back to the booth where he called games with Dan Dierdorf, then Trent Green. His other broadcast partners for games included Bruce Arians, Rich Gannon and Adam Archuleta.
Green paid tribute to Gumbel during his Saturday broadcast on NFL Network, along with Jamie Erdahl and Kevin Harlan.
"I had the privilege of working in the NFL booth with him for six seasons," Green said, via Awful Announcing. "As incredible of a broadcaster as he was, he was an even better person. Just made an impact on everyone’s lives that he touched."
Greg Gumbel, longtime sports broadcaster, dies at 78
Greg Gumbel, a longtime sports broadcaster described as “broadcasting royalty,” has died following a battle with cancer, his wife and daughter announced in a statement shared by CBS Sports on X. He was 78.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” the statement read. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer.”
The Gumbels said Greg, who was a CBS Sports studio host and play-by-play announcer, including five Super Bowls and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for 25 years, faced his illness with “stoicism, grace and positivity.”
“He was universally well-liked,” broadcaster Bob Costas told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “He was consistently excellent at his job.”
CBS Sports said in a statement it is “devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel.”
“There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague,” said David Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, in the statement.
There was an outpouring of support for Gumbel on Friday, with Harold Bryant, CBS Sports executive producer and executive vice president of production, calling the late announcer a “role model and a pioneer” in a statement.
“He broke barriers being one of the few Black broadcasters covering sports at the highest levels. He set a high bar for others to follow. His work was beyond reproach as he became one of the most respected broadcasters in the industry,” Bryant said.
“Whether it was play-by-play, studio host, or interviewing elite athletes, Greg was as smooth and trustworthy as could be. Greg loved his family, loved The Rolling Stones, and loved CBS. He treated everybody with respect and gratitude. Greg – you will be missed,” Bryant’s statement continued.
Clark Kellogg, a college basketball analyst for CBS and a former professional basketball player, said he enjoyed nearly 25 years of Gumbel’s “friendship, goodness, humor, partnership, professionalism and wisdom.”
“He was excellent in his work and exemplary in his caring and character,” Kellogg said in a statement.
Sports announcer Jim Nantz, who said his career had intersected with Gumbel’s for nearly 35 years, described the late host as “as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known” in a statement.
“Greg Gumbel was broadcasting royalty,” Nantz said.
“There’s not a member of the CBS Sports family who doesn’t have a sweet or kind memory of Greg. I have so much love and respect for him, and I’m going to miss him dearly,” Nantz continued.
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues, The Associated Press reported.
Last year, he signed an extension with CBS that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties, according to the AP.
Gumbel, born on May 3, 1946, in New Orleans, grew up in Chicago, according to a biography from CBS News.
In January 1998, Gumbel returned to CBS Sports as a play-by-play announcer and host after previously working for the network from October 1989 to May 1994, according to the biography.
Gumbel first left CBS for NBC when it lost football coverage in 1994 and returned four years later when it regained the contract, according to the AP.
Before joining CBS, Gumbel hosted for the NBA’s New York Knicks and the MLB’s New York Yankees for the Madison Square Garden Network, according to CBS.
His career, spanning more than 50 years, also included anchoring ESPN’s SportsCenter while working with the network for more than five years, hosting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and CBS football program “The NFL Today,” the Hollywood Reporter reported.
The three-time localEmmy Award winner was a CBS Sports primetime anchor for 1994 Olympic Winter Games coverage and co-anchored weekday morning CBS broadcasts of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, according to CBS.
The older brother of sportscaster and host Bryant Gumbel, Greg Gumbel was awarded the Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting in 2007, according to the AP.
He was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees, and served as member of the Sports Council for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for 16 years, the AP reported.
Gumbel celebrated 50 years of broadcasting in 2022, CBS reported.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.
Greg Gumbel, trailblazing CBS Sports broadcast legend, dies at 78
CBS sportscaster and three-time Emmy winner Greg Gumbel has died. He was 78. Gumbel, a college basketball fixture as the host of "College Basketball on CBS," lent his voice to myriad iconic moments across a variety of sports.
Gumbel's wife, Marcy, and daughter, Michelle, confirmed his death to CBS Sports.
Gumbel spent more than five decades announcing and covering some of the biggest sporting events in the world, many of them as a member of the CBS broadcast team. Throughout his illustrious career, he served as a play-by-play announcer for the NFL, NBA, MLB and college basketball.
"The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague," CBS Sports CEO David Berson said in a statement.
In his first stint with CBS, which spanned from 1988-94, Gumbel served as the host of "NFL Today" alongside legendary Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw. He also anchored the network's coverage of the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994.
Gumbel returned to CBS in 1998, becoming the network's lead play-by-play announcer for the NFL. He also began his 26-year run as the host of "College Basketball on CBS" with his voice on Selection Sunday announcing to fans where their teams would begin their NCAA Tournament journeys.
Analyst Clark Kellogg sat next to Gumbel for more than two decades on the college basketball desk forming a close friendship with his long-time coworker.
"For close to 25 years, I enjoyed and was richly blessed by Greg's friendship, goodness, humor, partnership, professionalism and wisdom," Kellogg said. "He was excellent in his work and exemplary in his caring and character. Like all who knew and loved him, I too am saddened by his death, yet also so very grateful to have known him in my life. What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner. My deepest condolences to the entire Gumbel family."
When Gumbel called Super Bowl XXXV in 2000, he made history as the first Black play-by-play announcer for a major sports championship. Gumbel also led broadcast coverage for Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
Harold Bryant, CBS Sports executive producer and vice president of production, worked closely with Gumbel throughout his time with the network. He said Gumbel blazed the trail for the next generation of Black announcers.
"Greg was a role model and a pioneer," Bryant said. "He broke barriers being one of the few Black broadcasters covering sports at the highest levels. He set a high bar for others to follow. His work was beyond reproach as he became one of the most respected broadcasters in the industry. Whether it was play-by-play, studio host, or interviewing elite athletes, Greg was as smooth and trustworthy as could be. Greg loved his family, loved The Rolling Stones, and loved CBS. He treated everybody with respect and gratitude. Greg - you will be missed."
Greg's younger brother, Bryant -- longtime host of "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" on HBO and co-host of NBC's "Today" for 15 years -- has often been credited with helping Greg begin his broadcasting career by alerting him to an open sportscaster position at WMAQ-TV in Chicago.
Between his stints with CBS, Greg Gumbel spent time at NBC, where he worked as an NBA play-by-play announcer and served as the daytime anchor for the 1996 Summer Olympics coverage. Gumbel also called the 1995 NLDS and NLCS, and he was part of the broadcast team for the 1995 World Championships of Figure Skating.
Gumbel's voice has been the soundtrack to some iconic sports moments over the years. During Super Bowl XXXVIII, his voice set the scene as Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal sent the New England Patriots to their second championship in three seasons.
Gumbel also called the "Mile High Miracle" in which the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco hit Jacoby Jones for a 70-yard touchdown to force overtime against the Denver Broncos in the final minute of play. The Ravens won the game on a Justin Tucker field goal in overtime, and they went on to win the Super Bowl later that postseason.
As a member of the NBC broadcast team, Gumbel was the play-by-play announcer for the 1997 Western Conference Finals between the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. In Game 6, Gumbel announced John Stockton's buzzer-beater that sent the Jazz through to the NBA Finals.
Early on in his broadcasting career, he worked for MSG Network as a host and play-by-play announcer for the New York Knicks and New York Yankees. Gumbel won a local Emmy for his work at MSG, and he won two local Emmys for his work with EMAQ-TV in Chicago. In 2007, Gumbel was the recipient of the Pat Summerall Award for excellence in broadcasting.
